Johan Schreck: Galileo's Friend in China

Abstract

Johann Schreck joined the Jesuit order in 1611, the same year that he used Galileo's telescope to observe the satellites of Jupiter. Upon becoming a Jesuit Schreck joined the Jesuit mission in China, taking with him a scientific library of approximately 7,000 volumes as well as a Galilean telescope. Schreck, along with the other Jesuits in China, helped to exchange scientific ideas between Europe and Asia. This OER explores this relationship and includes high-quality images from books in this period.